Article transfer mechanism



May 29, 1945, J. BELAbA ETAL Filed April 25, 1943 ART I CLE TRANSFER MECHANI SM 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTORS JDHMBELflD/l BY Mini/01.4110151- 1945. .1. BELADA ETAL ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM May 29 Filed April 23, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 T 05 mm w T E mam m 0 $3 n Kw A y 1945' J. BELADA ETAL I 7 2,377,294

ARTICLE TRANSFER MECHANISM I Filed April 23, 1943 3 Sheets-Shat 3 INVENTO R5 JOHN BELHDA MCB.HULLHOR8I' ATTQR Ys Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT :QFFl-C-E 23,77,294 ARTI'GLEZTRANSFER MECHANISM John Belada,'=Glassboro, N. J., and William .B. fHullhorst, .Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens- IllinoisGlass Company, a corporation of Ohio Application ApriLZB, 1943,,.Seria1No.-1484,154

11 Claims. I CC]. .302.11)

which have been supplied with a cap lining and sealing material such .as wax or the like; to an oven or lehr :by-wh-ich such material-is melted and distributed.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a-noveland practical form of pneumatic trans- :t errnechanism by which articles-may be transferred from one conveyor to another by means of air blasts.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figmlisapart-sectionalelevation of an apparatus embodyingour invention, partsof the apparatus being broken away. I

Fig. 2 is-a view showing-the-valve operating means controlling the air blasts.

-=-Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional-elevation of the transfer-mechanism.

Fig. 41s a part-sectional elevation-of-the apparatus shown in Fig. 3'looking i-n'a direction at right angles thereto.

F ig.5-=is a plan view of the apparatus.

"The invention as herei-nil-lustrated is adapted for conveying and transferring caps -or-closure dev-ices'C, such as usedfor closing and sealing bottles and jarsywhich caps ordinarily are made of sheet metal. The caps-are retained in an inverted position and each'contains a'small amount of wax or other sea-ling material (Fig. 5). The caps are carried on horizontally traveling endless chain conveyors I I and H toa transfer position at the front or intake end-of an oven or lehr. Thecaps-are then transfierred-in groups to the lehr conveyor which travels in-a direction transverse'to that of the conveyors H and I2 and are heated in the lehr tomelt and distribute the lining material N).

The lehr comprises a framework l5 which-supports a lehr conveyor including end-less sprocket chain's I'B at oppositesides of the lehr. 'Driving :bars vi I; extend transversely. of theiehr and are connected at theirends .to theichains 6. bars are spaced .at regularintervals throughout the length. :of the chains andazserve .to carry: the caps 0 through the .l'ehr. tThe chains IGzaresilpported on rails.=l8. Thelehr conveyor isudriven continuously as bymeans of an :electriomotor which has driving connections through speerireduction gearing within agear box 1'9, s-a sprocket chain 20= trainedover a. sprocketwhee'l Tl-011a conveyor driveshaft Z2. The chainsitfi are trained over drivingsprocket wheels 2 3.:heyed to the shaft 22. I

Thechain conveyors all and II! are trained over sprocketwheels' fland 1'5 (Fig. 1) mounted onshafts 26 iou-rnallod in a conveyorframe 21, the la-tter being supported on the lehrframe lfi. The chain conveyors ll and 12 are driv-en in synchronism with the lehr conveyor and pref erably by the samemotor, bu-t-at a higher :speed as required to completeeach row of caps-transfer-red tothe-lehr conveyor. One such row=is transferred from each chain conveyor to -each driving bar-I1, as indicated in-Fig. 5, and as more fully "described hereinafter.

The lehr 'is-divided 'by means of spacing bars 3-0 extending lengthwise thereof, into a plurality of separate lanes. In the construction shown, there are sixteen ofthese lanes eightof which receive caps from the conveyor =12 which -extend-s halfway across the lehr. The chainconveyor H is extended to-supply caps to'the-ei-ght lanes positioned beyond the-middle line of the lehr. The caps are supported'on strips 3| as they advancethrough the lehr, said strips '31 being mounted on angle ha-r532 forming part of the lehr'fra-mework.

The chain conveyors -'l i and I2 are provided at intervals lengthwisethereof, with-lugs '33 (Fig. "1) which projectinto position to contactthe 'circumferentialwalls of the caps-C andt-hus "serveas a-positive drivingmea-ns for the'caps.

"The "spacing between the lugs 33 is the'same'a-s that "of the guide rails 36, both being spaced at intervals somewhat greaterthan the diameters of "the caps. Guide rails -34, individual tot-he -lug ohain'conveyors H and *l2,-extend lengthwise thereof, for holding the caps in position on 'Ithe'conveyor chains. 'By reference-to'Fig. 1, it

will be; seen that the-driving lugs 33 arepositioned forwardly "(with respect to thedirection of transfer) beyondthe center 'line of the caps smthat thedriving pre'ssureof said lugs again-stthecaps always tends 'tohold them-in contact with *the guide'rail' 34.

The caps are transferred from the lug chain conveyor I to the lehr conveyor through inclined chutes 35, comprising an inclined sheet metal bottom plate, the forward end of which is directly over the lehr conveyor, and spacing strips 36 which are in line with and may form extensions of the strips 30. Overlying the chutes 35 and spaced thereabove to permit the passage of the caps, are inclined top guide plates 31. Chutes 38, substantially similar in construction to the chutes 35, are arranged to receive the caps from the conveyor l2 and transfer them to the lehr conveyor.

The caps are transferred from the lug chain conveyors to the chutes 35, 38 by pneumatic pressure supplied by a series of air nozzles. The air is supplied through pipes 39 and 49 mounted on the frame 21 and extending lengthwise thereof. The pipe 40 is provided with nozzles 4|, in-' dividual to the chutes 35, and each arranged to direct a stream of air against the caps as the latter move along said chutes. The pipe 39 is provided with short branch pipes through which air is supplied to nozzles 42 in the guide rail 34. These nozzles are in line with the chutes and are arranged to direct blasts of air against the caps for blowing them into the chutes.

Means for intermittently supplying air under pressure to the pipe 39 includes a valve V (Fig. 2) which is periodically actuated by a rotary cam 39. The cam is continuously driven from the lug chain conveyor through driving connections including a sprocket chain or belt 39 The cam operates through a lever 39 to open the valve momentarily and thereby admit air through a pipe 39 to the pipe 39. This causes a short blast of air to issue from each of the nozzles 42.

The, opening of the valve is so timed that the full row of caps, as shown in Fig. 5, is positioned in line with the chutes 35 before each opening movement of the valve. When the valve is opened the air blasts through the nozzles 42 blow the caps into the chutes 35, in line with the nozzles 4|. Continuous pressure is maintained in the pipe 40, so that continuous streams or jets of air issue from the nozzles 4| and insure the movement of the caps downward through the chute 35, the driving force of the air blasts being supplemented by the action of gravity.

Air pressure pipes 43 positioned over the chutes 35 and 38, are provided with inclined nozzles 44 positioned over slots 45 formed in the strips 31. The nozzles are arranged and adapted to direct continuous streams or jets of air through the slots 45 and thus apply Pneumatic pressure behind the caps to facilitate the transfer of the caps from the chutes to the lehr conveyor. Continuous air pressure is maintained in the pipes 43.

Stop mechanism for arresting the caps at the lower ends of the chutes, includes rock shafts 46 positioned over the chutes and each provided with stop arms 41 which project downwardly through the slots 45 into the paths of the caps. Each rock shaft 46 has attached to its outer" end a rock arm 48 which is downwardly and forwardly inclined, and at its free end is formed with a lug 49 (Fig. 3), which projects downward into the path of the bars l1.

The rock arm 48 is yieldingly held in its lowered position by a coil spring 50 connected through an angle bar to a projection 52 formed on the rock arm. An adjustable stop screw 53 limits the downward movement of the rock arm. Each of the driving bars H, as it comes in contact with the lug 49, swings the rock arm 48 and thereby swings the stop fingers 41 upwardly to release the caps, and allow the lowermost cap in each chute to be moved downward onto the lehr conveyor. The nozzles 44 (see Fig. 3) are arranged to blow air directly against the lowermost cap in each chute and thereby insure its forward movement onto the conveyor therebeneath. The operation of the finger 41 is so timed with respect to the movement of the lehr conveyor, that each cap is positioned between two of the driving strips H.

In order to move the caps into such position, if they are released to the conveyor slightly out of time with the movement of the driving bars l1, safety gates 55 are provided. Each gate consists of a horizontal bar extending transversely of the lehr and connected by hinges 56 to a supporting strip 51 mounted on the forward ends of the plates 31. The lower edge of the gate is just above the path of the bars l1 and the caps, when the latter are positioned therebetween. If a cap, when it is discharged from the inclined chute, rests on a bar I1, it is arrested and held by the gate 55 until it drops into position between the bars H. A weight 58 is adjustably mounted on the gate for holding it in operative position and allowing it to swing free of the caps when any abnormal resistance is encountered.

The operation may be summarized as follows:

The caps Care brought by the continuously traveling lug chain conveyors II and I! to a transfer position, a row of eight caps being brought by the conveyor into line with the eight lanes comprised in the right-hand half or the lehr conveyor, Fig. 5. At the same time alike row 01 caps is carried by the conveyor l2 into transfer position at the end of the left-hand half of the lehr. As the rows of caps reach such transfer positions, the valve V (Fig. 2) is actuated by its cam so that the nozzles 42 (Fig. 1) direct blasts of air against the caps and blow them into the chutes 35 and 38. Continuous streams or jets of air from the nozzles 4|, are directed against the caps as they enter the chutes and insure their continued movement until arrested by the stop fingers 41 at the lower ends of the chutes. Each set of stop fingers 41 is periodically lifted by the driving bars H to permit the foremost cap in each chute to be transferred. to a position between two adjacent bars l1 and then carried by said bars forward into and through the lehr.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. The combination of a horizontally traveling conveyor, lugs on the conveyor projecting therefrom in position to engage articles supported on the conveyor, said lugs being spaced at regular intervals along the conveyor, means providing a row of lanes having article receiving ends positioned along and adjacent to the path of the conveyor and the articles thereon, said lanes being spaced to correspond with the spacing of said lugs, and pneumatic means for blowing the articles from the conveyor into said lanes.

2. The combination of a horizontally traveling endless chain forming a conveyor for articles placed thereon, lugs carried by said chain at one side thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom at intervals along the chain, a stationary guide rail extending lengthwise of the chain along and adjacent to the other side thereof, means providing a row of guideways having receiving ends positioned along and adjacent to the conveyor, the spacing between the center lines of adjoining guideways being equal to the spacing between adjoining lugs on the conveyor, and automatic means for transferring articles from the conveyor to said guideways.

3. The combination of a horizontally traveling endless chain forming a conveyor for articles placed thereon, lugs carried by said chain at one side thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom at intervals along the chain, a stationary guide rail extending lengthwise of the chain along and adjacent to the other side thereof, means providing a row of guideways having receivin ends positioned along and adjacent to the conveyor, the spacing between the center lines of adjoining guideways being equal to the spacing between adjoining lugs on the conveyor, blowin nozzles positioned in line with said guideways at the opposite side of the conveyor from said guideways, said nozzles being positioned and arranged to blow air against articles on the conveyor, and automatic means for supplying blasts of air through said nozzles and thereby blowing the articles from the conveyor into said guideways.

4. The combination of a horizontally traveling endless chain forming a conveyor for articles placed thereon, lugs carried by said chain at one side thereof and projecting upwardly therefrom at intervals along the chain; a stationary guide rail extending lengthwise of the chain along and adjacent to the other side thereof, means providing a row of guideways having receiving ends positioned along and adjacent to the conveyor, the spacing between the center lines of adjoining guideways being equal to the spacing between adjoining lugs on the conveyor, blowing nozzles positioned in line with said guideways at the opposite side of the conveyor from said guideways, said nozzles being positioned and arranged to blow air against articles on the conveyor, automatic means for supplying blasts of air through said nozzles and thereby blowing the articles from the conveyor into said guideways, and means for supplying continuous streams of air and directing them against the articles in said guideways.

5. The combination of a horizontally traveling conveyor comprising bars extending transversely of the direction of travel of the conveyor, an inclined chute positioned over the conveyor and arranged to discharge articles onto the conveyor between said bars, and a gate positioned over the conveyor out of the path of said bars and in position to engage articles resting on said bars, while clearing articles positioned between said bars, said gate being mounted to swing upwardly when excessive pressure is applied thereto by a said article advancing with the conveyor.

6. The combination of a horizontally traveling conveyor comprising bars extending transversely of the direction of travel of the conveyor, an inclined chute positioned over the conveyor and arranged to discharge articles onto the conveyor between said bars, a stop finger positioned to arrest articles in said chute, automatic means for periodically lifting the stop finger and transferring the articles from the chute to the conveyor, and a hinged safety gate positioned over the conveyor out of the path of said bars and in position to engage a said article when the latter is resting on one of said bars.

7. The combination of a plurality of lanes arranged side by side and comprising two groups, the ends of the lanes of each group being arranged in a row, with the ends of one group positioned forwardly of the ends of the other group, conveyors individual to said groups and extending along said rows and each terminating at the end of its said row, means for driving the conveyors in the same direction'and thereby causing them to convey articles and position them opposite said ends of the lanes, and automatic means for transferring rows of the articles from said conveyor to said lanes.

8. The combination of a plurality of lanes arranged side by side and comprising two groups, the ends of the lanes of each group being arranged in a row, with the ends of one group positioned forwardly of the ends of the other group, conveyors individual to said groups and extending along said rows and each terminating at the end of its said row, means for driving the conveyors in the same direction and thereby causing them to convey articles and position them opposite said ends of the lanes, and means operable automatically to simultaneously transfer rows of said articles from said conveyors to the respective groups of lanes.

9. The combination of a plurality of lanes arranged side by side and comprising two groups,

the ends of the lanes of each group being an ranged in a row, with the ends of one group positioned forwardly of the ends of the other group, conveyors individual to said groups and extending along said rows and operable to convey articles and position them opposite said ends of the lanes, an air pressure pipe extending along said conveyors, nozzles connected to said pipe and positioned in line with said lanes for blowing articles from the conveyors into said lanes, and automatic means for periodically and intermittently supplying air under pressure to said pipe and thereby blowing rows of articles from the conveyors into said lanes.

10. The combination of a horizontally traveling conveyor, means for spacing articles carried thereon at predetermined regular intervals along the conveyor, means providing a row of lanes having article receiving ends positioned along and adjacent to the path of the conveyor and the articles thereon, said lanes being spaced to correspond with the said spacing of the articles on the conveyor, and pneumatic means for blowing the articles from the conveyor into said lanes.

11. The combination of a downwardly and forwardly inclined chute, means for positioning articles in register with the chute at the upper end thereof, a blowing nozzle in line with said chute in position to blow the said articles from said registered position into the chute, means for intermittently supplying air under pressure to said nozzle, and a nozzle positioned over said chute at a point intermediate the ends of the chute and inclined downwardly and forwardly relative to the chute, and means for supplying air continuously through said last mentioned nozzle.

JOHN BELADA. WILLIAM B. HULLHORST. 

